Scaffolding connection



NOV. 27, 195] I I ow SCAFFOLDING CONNECTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1948 v INVENTOR. ALEXANDER How/E BY A. HOWIE 2,576,400 SCAFFOLDING CONNECTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1951 Filed May \8, 1948 r YE;

i1? 1 X l IN V EN TOR. AL EMA 052 //0 W/E fiT-ro/cmsy A. HOWlE 2,576,400

SCAFFOLDING CONNECTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 27, 1951 Filed May 8, 1948 INVENTOR. //L fXA/VDEQ //0 W/E MM iiw A TV? r2 IY EV Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 7 2,576,400 SCQ'FFGLDTNG CONNECTION Alexander Howie, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application May 2, 1948, serial No. 25,843

This invention relates, as indicated, "to a scaffolding connection, but has reference also a novel form of locking pin which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with such con motion. 7

A primary 'object-orthe invention is to provide a scaffolding connection which is of extremely simple, yet durable-and rugged construction,

Another "object of the invention is toprovide a scaffolding connection which consist of a minimum number of parts, which may be cut or "sta npedl'rom sheet metal, and quickly and easily bent to finished form by means of simple and inexpensive bending equipment and dies.

A further object of the invention is "to provide a s affoldin connection of the character described which is highly effective for connectin the ends of scaffolding members and rigidly maintaining them in connected relation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel locking pin or fastening device which coacts with the s'c'afioldin'g connection and scaffolding members in a novel manner to rigidly lock the parts in assembled relation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent durin the course of the following description.

In the accom anying drawings, forming apart or this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like arts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a scaffolding connection embodying the invention;

Fig. "2 is a top plan view of the scafi'oldin'g connection;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the scaffolding connection, and showing also the manner in which members comprising the scaffold are supported by and connected to said scafio'lding connection;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4- of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view 01 one of the locking pins showhinFig. 4'; i

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the locking pin of Fi 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of aplate which forms a part of the locking pin of Figs. Sandi Fig. 3 is a side elevationalyiew of a modified form of scaifioldin'g connection embodying the invention; 1

Fig. 9 .is a to lan view or the scafioicing connectionof Fig.3; 4 r i a Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the scalrcliiine connection of Figs. 7 andBQand snowing also 5 Claims. (CL 304-4) the manner in which members comprising the scaffold are supported by and connected to said scafiolding connection, and

11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, taken on the line I 1-! t of Fig. 10.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to '7 of the drawings, the scalfolding connection in this embodiment of the invention comprises four v'ertically -extending channel-shaped members I, so arranged in relation to each other that the webs 2 of the members form an opening 3 for the -re= ception of the ends of wooden scaffolding beams commonly known as 4 x 4s. In Fig. 3, a '4 x .4, designated by reference numeral 4 is shown as disposed in the upper portion of the opening 3, and another 4 x 4, designated by reference nilme'ral 5, is shown as disposed in thelower portion of the opening '3, in en'dwise abutment with the first 4 'x 4.

Each of the members I is preferably formed of sheet metal, bent to provide parallel flanges 6, rrom which rectan ular projections I extend, intermediate the ends of the flanges, these project'io'ns 1 being coplanar with the flanges 6.

Disposed within each of the members I is a member, -also formed from sheet metal and having a body portion 8 forming a shelf or seat for the su port of the end of a "horizontal-4 x '4, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. This member is pro vided at its rear edge with a downwardly"extend in'g flange 9, which is s otwelded to the web "2 of the member I, and at the "sides thereof with downwardly ext nding flanges In, which are spot welded to the flanges 6 of the'members I, and to the projections or extensions I of the flanges 6.

For the purpose of maintaining the members i in the relationship shown, and in order to rigidii'y the structure as a whole, "I have also provided vertically-extending angle members 1!, the legs of which are spot-welded to the outer faces of the flanges 6 ol the members I, these angle members being coextensive in length with the flanges 6.

It will be further noted that each-cf the members is provided adjacent the upper and lower ends of the Webs 2 thereof with circular openin'g's l2, the openings in the web of one member being in axial alignment with the corresponding openings in the web of the directly opposite member. Similarly, the projections or extensions 1 of each member are provided with axially aligned openings [3. The function of "these openings will bepresentlydescribed. v

i For the purpose of anchoring, or fastening the lower end or the beam t and the upper end of the beam 5 to the scaffolding connection, special fastening devices or locking pins are employed, which are clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and '7 of the drawings. Each of these devices comprises a member I4 formed of round rod, about /1 in diameter, and bent sharply at one end to pro vide a handle I5, which extends at substantially a right angle to the member I4 The other end of the member I4 is slotted, as at I6, this slot being coplanar with the handle I5. Disposed within the slot I6 is a, rectangular-shaped plate I'I having a slot l8 therein which extends diagonally across the plate. The plate I! is permanently secured within the slot It by means of 4 fastening device which coacts with the scaffolding connection and scaffolding members in a novel manner to rigidly lock the parts in assembled relation.

In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive of the drawings, I have shown a modification of the scafiolding connection which is used for scaffolding consisting, in the main, of 2 x 4s, 2 X 6s, etc.

The scaffolding connection, in this modification comprisesa pair .of vertically-extending sheetmetal channels, so arranged in relation to each other that the webs 22 and the flanges 23 of the channels form an opening 24 for the reception of the ends of 2 x 4s, the upper 2 x 4 being designated in Figs. 10 and 11 by reference number 25 and the lower'2' 'x' 4 by reference numeral 25', the

, 2 x 4s being in ,endwise abutment with each other.

from the position shown in Fig. 5 to a position in which its longer dimension is in axial alignment with the member I4, the length of the slot I6 being sufficient for this purpose.

The lower end of the beam 4 is provided with a circular opening extending therethrough, which opening is aligned with the openings I2 in the members I. The plate I I of a fastening device is then turned so that its longer dimension is in axial alignment with the member I l, after which this end of the device is inserted through an opening in the beam 4 and through the opening I2 of the opposite member I. The handle I5 serves as a stop which bears against the web 2 of the first member I to limit the aforesaid movement of the fastening device.

The plate I! is then turned to an upright position, and is then struck a blow with a hammer, thereby causing the plate to move downwardly, the movement of the pin IS in the inclined slot I8 producing a wedge-like engagement of the plate I! with the web of the member I. The beam 4 is thus flrmly locked to the scaffolding connection by the connecting device which has been described.

In the same manner, the beam 5 and. the four horizontal 4 x 4s are locked to the scafiolding connection, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 Since the plate I! is coplanar with the handle I5 of each locking pin, the direction of the handle serves as a means of properly orienting the plate IT with respect to the scaffolding connection, therebygreatly facilitating assembly. In other words, during assembly, the assembler need only be sure that the handle I5 extends downwardly, thereby automatically insuring that the plate I1 is in proper position to be struck a hammer blow for the purposes stated.

Diagonal braces or members 20, in the form of 4 x 4s, may also be employed in building the scaffold, and the ends of these may be wedged between the flanges 6 and the fastening devices, as best shown in Fig. 3. Where-such a diagonal brace is used at a point where a locking pin is not used, a short piece of 2 x 4 may be used as a wedge to wedge the brace in position.

It is thus seen that I have provided a scaffolding connection or the like, which is of extremely simple, yet durable and rugged construction, which consists of a minimum number of parts which may be cut or stamped from sheet metal and quickly and easily bent to finished form by means. of simple, and inexpensive bending equipment, and dies, and which is highly effective for connecting the ends of scaffolding members and rigidly maintaining them in connected relation.

The flanges 23 of one of the channels are in abutment with the flanges 23 of the opposite channel, as best shown in Fig. 9.

For the purpose of maintaining the channels 22-23 in the relationship shown,'and in order to rigidify the structure as a whole, I also provide channel-shaped members formed, of sheet metal, bent to provide webs 26 which are spot-welded to the outer facesof the flanges 23, and parallel flanges 21 which are coplanar with the webs 22 of the channels 22-23, and from which rectangular projections 28 extend, intermediate the ends of the flanges 21, these projections 28 being coplanar with the flanges 21. I

I further provide similar channel-shaped membersformed of sheet metal, bent to provide webs 29 which are spot-welded to the outer faces of the webs 22, intermediate the vertical edgesof such Webs, and parallel flanges 38 which are disposed at right angles to the webs.22 of the channels 22-23, and from. which rectangular projections 3| extend, intermediate the ends of the flanges 30, these projections 3'I being coplanar with the flanges 30-. I I r Disposed within each of the channels 2621 is a member,"also formed from sheet metal and having a body portion 32 forming a seat or shelf for the support of the ,end of a horizontal 2 x 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The member 32 is provided at its rear edge with a downwardly-extending flange .33, which is spot-welded to the web 26 of the channel 25 21, and at the sides thereof with downwardly-extending flanges 34, which are spot-welded to the flanges 2! and projections 28 thereof. v

Disposed within each of the channels 29-30 is a member, formed from sheet metal and having a body portion 35 forming a seat or shelf for the support of the end of a horizontal 2 vx 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The member 35 is provided at its rear. edge with a downwardly ex tending'flange 36 which is spot-welded to the web 29 of the channel 29-30, and at the sides thereof with downwardly-extending flanges 31, which are spot-welded to the flanges 30 and projections 3| thereof.

It will be further noted that eachof the channelsv 22-23 is provided adjacent the upper and lower endsof the webs 22 thereof with circular openings 38, the openings in the web of one channel being in axial alignment with the corresponding opening in the web of the directly op- II? i s ai I have P d a k n r .15 ni l i lia ei ss a, peni S33a{39 and 40 are for the reception of connecting devices shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, so that no further description of the methods of connecting the 2 x 4s to the scaffolding connection is believed to be necessary.

While the construction of the scafiolding connection shown in Figs. 3 to 11 inclusive, is somewhat different than that shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, it is apparent that it has the same advantages and merits as the latter, and is used in virtually the same manner. The modified form of scaffolding connection is also adapted, with necessary changes in dimensions, to use with 2 x 6s and other standard types of beamsor lumber.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope or the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A scafiolding connection or the like, comprising channel-shaped sheet metal members arranged with their webs defining a vertical opening therethrough of rectangular cross-section, the flanges of said channels extending outwardly and away from said opening, and members for seats for scaffolding members, said seat members disposed between the flanges of said channels and extending at right angles to the flanges of said channels.

2. A scafiolding connection, as defined in claim 1, in which the flanges of said channels are provided intermediate their ends with extensions of 6 rectangular form which are coplanar with said flanges, and said seat members are also disposed between said extensions.

3. A scaffolding connection, as defined in claim 2, in which said channels are maintained in said arrangement by means of sheet metal angles which are welded to the outer faces of the flanges of the channels.

4. A scafiolding connection, as defined in claim 3, in which said channels are provided with circular openings adjacent the upper and lower ends of the webs thereof.

5. A scaffolding connection, as defined in claim 4, in which said extensions are provided with circular openings.

ALEXANDER HOWIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 325,221 Wright Aug. 25, 1885 438,249 De I-Iaer Oct. 14, 1890 626,365 Calvert June 6, 1899 775,200 Webber Nov. 15, 1904 949,394 Daly Feb. 15, 1910 1,582,402 Honan Apr. 27, 1926 2,010,552 McDermott Aug. 6, 1935 2,323,195 Bouchillon Jan. 29, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,257 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1915 10,380 Denmark Dec. 23, 1907 

